Adjustable waist band for trousers



April 37 s. s. MOYER ET AL 2,011,002

ADJUSTABLE WAIST BAND FOR TROUSERS Filed Sept. 24, 1956 v v ITED STATES PATENT Patented Apr. 13, 1937 "OFFICE:

Application September 24, 1936, Serial No. 102,407

5 Claims.

This invention relates to trousers and particularly to means whereby the waistband of the trousers may be adjusted by the wearer to make the waistband larger or smaller, and the present application is a continuation in part of my prior application filed March 24, 1936, Ser. No. 70,683, on Adjustable waistbands for trousers;

The general object is to provide a pair of trousers in which the means for lengthening or shortening the waistband is entirely concealed, and in which the adjustment of the waistband creates no unsightly wrinkles or creases, and which does not require a belt.

Another object is to provide a waistband which is constructed with a fold entirely on the inside of the waistband, means upon the exterior' of the waistband whereby this folded portion may be increased or decreased in area to thus reduce the length of the waistband or increase the length, and means whereby the adjusting means on the exterior of the waistband is entirely concealed under normal conditions.

Still another object is to make this folded portion coincident with the upper end of the side pocket of the trousers, and to make this side pocket continuous, with no gaps or openings in it, so that it may be used as a pocket without the dangerof having anything lost from it.

A further object is to provide an adjusting device which will'not pull either the front or back of thetrousers but gently slides the fold of the front of the trousers over the back of the trousers to the desired position, thus lengthening or shortening not only the waist, but the hips, without interfering at all with the fit or hang of the trousers.

A still further object is to provide the waistband of" the trousers with an interior nonstretchable tape which extends entirely around the waistband except that at the re-folded portion of the waistband, this non-stretchable tape is interrupted, but the tape within the forward section of the trousers from the fly back to the pocket overlaps the tape in the rear section of the trousers which extends to the pocket, thus permitting the fold to be soft, flexible and the re-folded portions thereof being capable of being folded flat against each other, while at the same time the waistband as a whole is prevented from stretching under use.

Other objects will appear following description.

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view looking at the exterior of the hip portion of a pair of trousers, showing'our improved means for adjusting the in the course of the trousers and the pocket structure of the trousers;

ing at the inside of the hip portion of a pair of trousers;

- Figure 3 is a diagrammatic top plan view looking down on Figure 1, the lining being omitted;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view approximately on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that we have illustrated one side of a pair of trousers. It is only necessary to illustrate one side of the upper portion of a pair of trousers, for the reason that the other side is a duplicate of the side illustrated.

The material of each trouser leg is formed in two sections A and B, the section A being the rear section of the trousers, while the section B is the front section of the trousers. A waistband is formed as usual by an outer strip of fabric l0 stitched to the upper margin of each section A and B by stitches ii, and an inner lining strip I2 is stitched to the goods by the stitches i i previously referred to and also by stitches it. Thus a tubular portion is formed at the waistband which contains a non-extensible tape 29,

whose function will be later stated. A seam i3 extends upward from the lower end of the trouser leg to a point spaced from the waistband i0, said seam defining the forward portion B of the trousers from the rear portion or section A.

Stitched to the rear section of the trousers above the seam I3 and extending downward from the waistband is a triangular piece it which is stitched to the pocket along the line I5, as will be later described. This triangular piece extends downward below the pocket opening, the forward wall of this pocket opening being designated Hi, the material from which the trousers are made being folded under at this point at H, as usual.

The rear section ID of the cloth forming the waistband extends forward beyond the section A and is re-folded upon itself, as at it. It then extends forward to a point l9 where it is attached by stitching to the forward section Ill of the waistband. The cloth portion ID of the rear section of the waistband extends rearward on the inside face of the rear end portion of the forward waistband section ID and is attached thereto by stitching and terminates in a tubular tab 20 returned on itself, as at 2 I, to engage with a loop 22 forming part of a slide 23. Sewed or otherwise attached in any suitable manner to the rear waistband section ill at a point approximately above the seam I3 is a toothed element 24 with which the slide 23 cooperates. The slide 23 and the toothed element 24 together constitute a slide fastening. When the slide is drawn rearward by means of the swinging handle 25, the slide slips over the element 24, and when this handle 25 is turned inward against the slide 23, teeth on this handle engage with the teeth 24 to hold the slide in its adjusted position. This is a common form of slide fastener and in itself is not our invention.

The front section I of the waistband extends over the returned face of the rear section III and beyond the tab 29 forms a flexible tongue 28 constituted by an outer and an inner thickness of cloth. This tongue coacts with a loop 21 sewed upon the rear section of the waistband just rearward of the seam l3 to hold this tongue in place over the slide fastening means to thus conceal this 5 slide fastening means. The lining l2 extends over the inside face of the rear section III of the waistband but at the point I 9 is continued on in a forward direction over the inside face of the forward section Ill of the waistband.

The pocket 28 is, of course, disposed entirely on the inside of the trousers and is composed of a folded blank of pocket material. This is stitched along the line H! down to the lower end of the pocket opening and is stitched to the portion I4 along the line I 5, so as to provide an opening in the pocket 21 coincident with the pocket opening formed in the material of the trousers. The lower portion of the pocket is, of course, free from attachment. It may have any suitable length be- 30 low the lower end of the pocket opening.

It is absolutely necessary for the proper fitting of the trousers that a stiffening band or tape of non-stretchable inelastic material shall be disposed partly around the waistband between the portions I9 and I2. This tape 29 extends around the rear section of the trousers to a point directly inward of the forward extremity of the toothed element 24, and a front tape section 29 extends from the fly of the trousers rearward into the tab 20, thus the forward tape section 29 terminates at its rear end adjacent to but slightly overlapping the rear tape section 29-, but no tape section is disposed within that portion of the waistband which is intended to form the re-folded portion ill of the waistband.

It is to be understood that when the slide 23 is drawn towards the left in Figure 1, the tape section 29 still further overlaps the end portion of the tape section 29, but there is no tape within the re-folded portion of the waistband from the point x to the point 3! in Figures 1 and 2. If there were an inelastic tape in this re-folded portion from the point a: to the point 1 the refolded portion would be too stiif to fold readily; the refolded portions would not lie flat against each other and there would be bulkiness at this fold, and there would be likely to be discomfort felt by the wearer over each hip. By terminating the tape sections 29 at the point :r: and leaving the 0 waistband unreinforced from a: to 1!, the fold is flexible, soft and folds fiat against the body when adjusted. At the same time, there is no stretch in the waistband as a whole, because the nonstretchable tape sections overlap each other at the point of engagement of the tab 2| with the slide 23 and the element 24, thus whether the fold is let out to its fullest extent or pulled up to its fullest extent, the waistband will not give or gradually slacken through the stretching of the cloth or stretching of the belt H. Because the tape 29' extends into the tab 29, there is nogive in the tab. If the tape did not extend into the tab, the tab would stretch under strain and tend to break at its junction with the waistband It has been found in actual use that unless this relatively heavy non-stretchable tape is used within the tubular portion of the waistband, the waistband gives and stretches, necessitating constant taking up, and further that the tab 20 stretches and tends to tear away at its Junction with the forward section of the trousers due to the constant flexing at the point under movements of the body.

It is also particularly pointed out that in our structure, the toothed element 24 and the slide coacting therewith, are disposed rearward of the hip so that this relatively stiff metallic portion with its coacting clasp or slide does not bear against the hip of the wearer but that the soft and flexible re-folded portion, which is unreinforced, extends over the hip, thus there is no discomfort due to using a slide take-up" structure, as would be the case were this metallic slide take-up disposed in advance of where we have disposed it, which would bring both slide fasteners to bear against the hips of the wearer.

It will be seen that the bight l8 of the waistband is disposed on the inner face of the trousers so that it is not in any way observable. This bightv portion is flexible and soft and may be taken up or lengthened by adjusting the slide 25 and thus the waistband may be lengthened or shortened so as to fit properly around the waist of the wearer. Due to the fact that the sliding adjusting means is disposed on the outside of the waistband, it is very easy to make an adjustment of this waistband. Regardless of the position in which the slide 23 is set, there are no unsightly creases or folds created by the lengthening or shortening thereof. This adjusting device will not pull on either the front or back of the trousers, but gently slides the front over the back to the desired position. This automatically lengthens or shortens the waist of the trousers at the hips, and preserves a perfect fit of the trousers as well.

Due to the method in which the elongation of the side pocket is developed, no pressing or creasing is necessary in order to make the garment sightly, as regardless of the position in which the adjusting device or slide is placed, the folds fall into place automatically. The side pocket is continuous with no gaps or holes in it and there is no danger thus of anything being lost from it.

It is, of course, to be understood that we have illustrated only one side of the trousers and that the folded portion l8, the slide 23, the toothed member 24, the tongue 26 and loop 21, may be duplicated on the opposite hip of the trousers. Of course, both slides should be adjusted at the same time and to the same extent in order to secure a proper fit of the trousers.

While we have illustrated certain details of structure which we have found preferable in the actual manufacture of trousers with this waistband, we do not wish to be limited to these details, as it is obvious that many minor changes might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Thus, while it is preferable to use the slide fastening means which we have illustrated in the drawing, other slide-fastening means might be used for this purpose, and we do not wish to be limited to the use of the slide fastening means as a buckle might be used in conjunction with the tab 2 I, or we could use a series of buttons and buttonholes mounted respectively upon the tab and upon the trousers, or a series of snap fasteners, but in any case, these devices, as will be noted,

will be so disposed upon the trousers that they will not bear against the hips of the wearer.

It is also to be understood that it is within the purview of our invention to construct the trousers with only one take-up portion at one hip instead of two, if we so desire.

What is claimed is:- i 1. A pair of trousers, including a front section and a rear section stitched to each other from the lower end of the trouser leg to a point spaced from the upper edge but unstitched from each other above this point to leave a pocket opening; each of said sections having waistband sections stitched thereto, the waistband of the rear section extending across the pocket opening to the rear portion of the front section of the trousers, this portion of the rear waistband section being folded upon itself and extending rearward to the inner face of said front section of the waistband and being stitched thereto at its margins and terminating in a rearwardly directed tab, the front section of the waistband being extended over and being stitched to the re-folded portion of the rear waistband section; a lining strip stitched at its upper and lower margins to the inner faces of the front and rear sections of the waistband and extending directly forward away from the rear section to the junction of the rear section of the waistband with the trousers and then extending along the front section, coacting I fastening means attached to the rear end of the tab and to the rear section of the waistband, the fastening means being adjustable with relation to each other, a tape section of non-stretchable material disposed beneath the lining of the rear waistband section and terminating at the forward end of the fastening device attached to the rear section; and a forward tape section of nonstretchable material disposed beneath the lining of the forward waistband section and extending rearward into said tab.

2. A pair of trousers, including a front section and a rear section stitched to each other upward from the lower end of the trouser leg to a point spaced from the upper edge of the trousers but unstitched to each other above this point to leave a pocket opening; each of said sections having a waistband section stitched thereto, the waistband of the rear section extending across the pocket opening to the rear portion of the front section of the trousers and being foldedupon itself and extending rearward on the inner face of said front section and being stitched thereto at its margins and termimating in a rearwardly directed tab; the front section of the waistband being extended over and being stitched to the re-folded portion of the rear waistband section and being extended rearward to form a flexible fabric tongue; a lining strip stitched at its upper and lower margins to the inner faces of thefront and rear sections of the waistband and extending directly forward along the rear section to the junction of the rear sec-' tion of the waistband with the trousers, then extending along the inner face of the front section,

a sliding fastening device including a slide attached to the rear end of the tab, a coacting fixed element attached to the rear section of the waistband adjacent the pocket opening; a tape section of non-stretchable material disposed beneath the lining of the rear waistband section and terminating beneath the forward end of the fixed element, and a forward tape section of non-stretchable material disposed beneath the lining of the front waistband section and extending rearward into said tab. v

3. A pair of trousers having a waistband, the

' material at the hip portion of the waistband being behind the rear portion of the waistband and terminating at the beginning of the re-folded portion of the waistband, the other section being disposed behind the forward portion of the waistband extending rearwardly beyond the re-folded portion of the waistband and extending to said tab.

4. A pair of trousers having a rear section and a front section stitched to each other and formed to provide a pocket opening between the sections, the material at the hip portion of the rear section being extended forward and then re-folded upon itself and extending rearward, the re-folded portion having a tab extending therefrom, a toothed element attached to the rear section of the trousers beyond said tab, a slide coacting with the toothed element and attached to said tab whereby' the fold of the waistband may be lengthened or shortened, a tape section of non-stretchable material attached to the inside face of the waistband of the rear section of the trousers, and terminating beneaththe forward end of the toothed element, and a second section of non-stretchable material attached to the inside face of the front section of the trousers at the waistband and extending rearward and into said tab.

5. A pair of trousers having on each side a front section and a rear section meeting at the hips, a waistband attached to the rear section and having an extension beyond the forward edge of the rear section, the extension being re-folded upon itself and extending rearward and terminating in a tab, the body of the waistband and the tab being provided with coacting slide adjusting means whereby the re-folded portion of the waistband may be taken up or let out, the forward section of the trousers having a waistband attached to the returned extension of the rear section of the waistband, this forward section of the waistband being extended rearward in the form of a tongue, the forward section of the trousers being stitched to the rear section upward to a point spaced from the waistband and then extending upward and forward to form the forward wall of a pocket opening, a triangular piece stitched to the rear section of the trousers just below the waistband and extending beneath the last named portion of the forward section of the trousers to constitute the inner wall of the pocket opening. a pocket stitched to said triangular portion and to the forward section of the trousers, and a loop attached to the waistband rearward of the adjusting device and adapted to receive the end of said tongue.

SIDNEY S. MOYER. HENRY S. MOYER. 

